Platform Nine and Three Quarters was bustling with activity on September First, 1971. Weepy mothers and proud fathers hugged their children goodbye. Animals ran around underfoot. Luggage was loaded onto the train, and the Hogwarts Express itself, in all its shiny red glory, made the occasional mechanical noise, as if to remind the parents and soon-to-be students that it was only a matter of minutes before they had to part ways for the next months.
"Now remember, Sirius," said a shrill voice, "Remember – Slytherin. You must get sorted into Slytherin. It would dishonor the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black if you were placed otherwise, do you hear me?!"
A little boy with black hair and grey eyes, who couldn't have been older than eleven, gulped and nodded, looking up at his mother.
"And remember everything else I've told you!" she continued. "No associating with Gryffindors, and I do not want to even hear one word about you having been talking to some filthy mudblood, do you understand me, Sirius?"
The boy nodded again.
"It will get back to me! And I'll burn you off the family tree, that's what I'll do! Disown you! Throw you out onto the streets!"
Sirius gulped again. He wasn't very sure what had brought about this sudden discussion (as he hadn't mentioned anything about not getting sorted into Slytherin or about talking with mudbloods), but he was sure that he never wanted his mother to talk to him like this again.
"Blood traitor, they'd call you!" Walburga ranted. "No son of mine would ever end up being labeled a blood traitor!!" She eyed him suspiciously for a moment. "Now – is your luggage on the train already?"
"Yes, Mother," Sirius replied quietly.
"Good. I expect you home at Christmastime. Goodbye." Without further ado, Walburga Black spun around and disappeared into the crowd of children and parents.
On the other side of the Platform, another discussion was taking place, but it was decidedly opposite of Sirius and Walburga's.
"I don't know why he has to go to a – a – a freakish school!" Tobias Snape hissed at his wife, cautiously eyeing the wizards and witches on the platform.
"Tobias—" Eileen Snape began, her voice hushed, but her husband cut her off.
"It was bad enough, what with all that – that bloody accidental magic – blowing things up with his mind, turning people's hair colors – but I don't see why we couldn't just pass him off as normal, send him to a normal school—"
"Father," Severus Snape cut in. The black haired boy stared up at his father with equally black eyes. "My luggage is already on the train and it's about to leave – I have to go."
Tobias huffed. Eileen got down on her knees and pulled Severus to her in a tight hug. The boy managed to squirm out the embrace after several seconds.
"Bye," he shouted over his shoulder, racing in the direction of the train.
Eileen waved back, but Tobias roughly grabbed her arm and pulled her away.
With a sigh, Severus Snape stepped onto the Hogwarts Express for the first time, marking the beginning of his future as a very important wizard.
Author's Note: This is a little idea I thought up today. It'll start out as Lily/Severus but will end up Sirius/Severus by the end. It should cover all the way through Severus and Sirius's school days to after Harry's graduated. Oh, and Severus will be Harry's father in this story, so if you don't like that (or slash) you should probably not read any further (but none of that will happen for a long time).